Many years ago, I decided to make a turkey and corn chili. All was going well, and I’d bought a really cute plant at the farmers’ market that I wanted to use. I’d never tried it before, it was called Thai bird chile. I used 1/3 of the amount called for to taste and re-season. Aaaaaaaach!!! Over the next couple of days I threw in everything but the kitchen sink to tame the fiery beast but to no avail. I froze it and threw it away on trash day.
The second reason is that I spent six years in Texas and chili is quite a conversation starter and ender. There are no beans in Texas chili. I have looked up LBJ’s (that’s our president Lyndon Baines Johnson for you young uns’) recipe for Pedernales chili, which his staff served up for thousands on the ranch in the 1960’s and would like to try that recipe one day.
The weather is turning and after this weekend, as it’s supposed to be nearly 80 degrees tomorrow, it’ll be time for hearty soups and stews. Just as I look forward to spring and summer for fresh fruit and asparagus, I look forward to winter and the opportunity to create tasty one-pot meals.
Today I made spiced almonds and cashews from a 20 year-old recipe. They won’t allow me to use it on the blog so I won’t tell you where I found it. So there. I kicked it up with more black pepper and used pure chipotle chile powder as I never use Americanized “chile powder” any more. Thank Penzeys.com for that. I need to put in an order there before I start cooking for the holidays! Half of the nuts are going as a hostess gift to a dinner party this evening, and the other half will be sent out Monday to Jim’s mother to freeze for Thanksgiving.
It’s a family rule (or perhaps my husband just thinks it is) that those traveling to Nanny’s for Thanksgiving don’t need to bring food along. Permit me a correction, the women in the family and those who’ve married into the family don’t have to contribute food. The men are content to bring themselves, eat, belch and watch football. Most of the ladies bring Southern desserts and there’s no way I’m going to compete in that arena. I’m no baker. I concentrate on “nibbles” that stay on the kitchen table throughout the day and evening, like spiced nuts, herbed cheese and crackers, and spinach balls. Though I gave spinach balls to the newest wife in the family as her signature dish.
We don’t have any idea how many people will be at the house this year, only that we missed a year and look forward to seeing everyone. I’m sure Jim’s brother will go out deer hunting early in the morning and I’ll help cook breakfast for however many there are. Jim’s mom Margie makes the greatest potato rolls and they will have been rising overnight and ready to bake before we head out to Nanny’s. Over the river, if not through the woods. I never knew my grandmothers so Nanny agreed to be mine nearly ten years ago! Thank heaven for grandmothers. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 